I don’t want you, my reader friend, to be living one flat tire, medical bill, or broken household appliance away from financial devastation. Trust me, it’s such a stressful way to live your life.

Now take a deep breath. I have good news for you. There is hope and there are ways to be proactive with your finances, rather than reactive. Proper financial planning is the key to avoiding many financial pitfalls. The most basic financial planning task, but the most critical for success, is a realistic monthly budget.

I want to encourage you to see creating a budget as a way to be responsible and respectful of the resources that God has entrusted you with. What you give attention to in your life is what you will gain affection for. What you have affection for changes your activities and attitude. If you truly love God and want to show affection for him, one of the ways to do that is to actively and responsibly manage your personal finances.

If you have a realistic monthly budget that you actually commit to follow, it will allow you to live a more fruitful and peaceful life from a financial standpoint. You will have a handle on how much income is coming in to your household and how much money is being spent each month. Also, careful budgeting ultimately allows you to give a portion of your income to kingdom causes, such as your local church or non-profit organizations, because you are not spending more money than you earn. There are missionaries, pastors, and non-profit organizations all over the world that are currently acting as the hands and feet of Christ by serving God’s people. They could truly benefit from your financial support so they can continue to do the kingdom work that God has called them to do. Stop and pray right now about whether or not your budget is being properly managed. Do you currently have a tithe or financial offering as part of your monthly budget? If not, consider starting with a small portion of your income each month and see if God blesses your finances.

The biggest objection I hear is that people do not know where to start when it comes to actually sitting down and creating a budget. As a result, I have done all of the hard work for you because I believe this is so important. Simply login to my website: www.emilygstroud.com and enter your email address when prompted. I will then send you a complimentary budget worksheet. All you have to do is fill in the blanks and then add and subtract. That’s it. So no more excuses!

I have repeated this phrase a lot lately. I read the headlines each morning and I just shake my head. Almost every day someone sends me an article with a comment attached to it saying, “Have you seen this yet? Do you know this person? Are they for real?” Sometimes I laugh at the headlines or articles because they are clearly ridiculous. That’s an easier pill to swallow.

However, lately, I can no longer laugh. We have lost our way. There’s a new phenomenon in the Christian publishing world and I don’t think it’s healthy. We want our favorite Christian blogger, speaker, or author to be our “spiritual everything.” Friend, it’s just not possible. They were never supposed to carry that burden for you. The only “spiritual everything” you will ever encounter is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Just because a person writes books and speaks to large audiences at sold out arenas, and claims to be a Christian, does not mean that everything they say and write is true. Many Christian authors and bloggers are speaking TRUTH, Praise God. Others, sadly, have been deceived. We must have discernment when reading anything a human being writes. It may not necessarily be TRUTH. It may simply be an OPINION, which is very different.

Friend, please remember these women in the limelight are people. Their spoken or written words should never be taken as “gospel” if what they preach does not line up with the actual Bible, the true Word of God. Some authors, bloggers, and speakers have been elevated to rock-star like status, especially among the Christian female market. We as a group are in danger of worshipping the person, rather than the one and only true GOD. These women were never supposed to be a substitute for your church home or your daily time in the Word.

As a money manager, I have been given discretionary authority to make changes in the investments in my clients’ portfolio. I assess what is going on in the world politically, economically, and geographically. Then I make a decision to buy or sell. I ultimately make the decision and then I am responsible for the outcome. In complete contract, human beings do not have discretionary authority when it comes to teaching the Bible. As a matter of fact, Bible teachers are held to a higher standard and will be accountable for what they say.

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. James 1:3

I’ve had the rare privilege to spend time with some of the private personas in the Christian publishing world, rather than just the public figures. They are real people. They certainly are not perfect and they would be the first to tell you that. Most of these amazing women are truly relatable and have a knack for telling fantastic stories. That is one of the reasons we all like them. They are charismatic and you feel like you could be “best friends” after knowing them only a short while. They have lots of energy, endurance, and an extremely strong work ethic. You have to have these qualities to survive the demands and schedules of the publishing world. It is a business, not just a ministry. Many people forget that. There are pressures to promote yourself and sell your books. It’s hard work. It’s also lonely work. You spend a lot of time behind a computer screen all by yourself.

You may be surprised to know that many authors you love and follow still get extremely anxious when asked to sign books or make public appearances. They are introverts by nature. Others are extroverts. Some folks in this arena have forgotten that people are listening to their opinions. They have forgotten that their followers are taking their words as TRUTH, rather than just an opinion. This is a very slippery slope.

Most female Christian authors, speakers, and bloggers that you have come to love and admire have the best of intentions. They are wives, moms, sisters, daughters, and friends. They are an amazing tribe of people. However, they are HUMAN. They are not necessarily prophets as I have heard people mention lately. That’s a serious title that should not be bestowed upon a person lightly. Friend, please listen carefully. If your favorite author or blogger suddenly writes or says something in an interview or an article that clearly does not line up with scripture, the truth did not suddenly change. That person’s opinion changed. That is all. Period. The God of the universe is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. His opinions and His commandments for living life NEVER change, even when they are not convenient or in vogue.

I want you to know, my reader friend, that I’m committed to Biblical truth as it relates to managing money and living a life in communion with Jesus Christ. I’m privileged to be working with the most talented group of individuals at Zondervan Publishing House. Together, we will deliver the message of Faithful Finance to your local bookstores, airports, and grocery stores by January of 2018. I will not give you information unless I have cross checked it with the Bible. I promise to have key advisors and mentors in place to hold me accountable to telling the TRUTH. I will not remain in an echo room with “Yes People.” I believe in the inerrant word of God. I do not believe in progressive Christianity and the authority to pick and choose what I want to follow from God’s word. I’m eternally grateful for the platform I have been given and I want to steward it well. #FaithfulFinance

I counsel people daily on how to best manage their personal finances. We talk about risk versus return, diversification, and other financial planning tools. However, one thing that sets people apart is whether or not they are working to live, or living to work. You may find this surprising but I’m not a proponent of working as hard as possible, as many hours per day, to make as much money as possible. Instead, I prefer the Work Smarter Not Harder mentality.

Friend, this life is not a dress rehearsal. You only get one shot at this amazing gift called life. When it’s all said and done, you won’t think on your death-bed that you wish you had spent more time at the office, rather than quality time with your friends and family. I want to encourage you to spend more time seeing the world rather than seeing the inside of a cubicle.

You may be thinking right about now that this sounds good in theory, but not practical in real life. I’m here today to debunk that myth. You can learn to manage your money in such a way that it works for you. That’s the message and battle cry of Faithful Finance. Sadly, many folks today are living their lives like they are spinning on a hamster wheel. They are just surviving and not thriving. They plan for DYING, rather than LIVING out the potential they have for a fruitful and peaceful life.

I was reminded of this truth when I received an email from a dear friend and client after a recent meeting. Mrs. Feinberg is no stranger to hard work. She was a teacher for over 35 years and her husband was a school administrator. They raised twin boys and made sure their children were well-educated. It’s been a true JOY to watch Mrs. Feinberg from the sidelines during her retirement years.

When we first met just 10 years ago, Mrs. Feinberg was grieving the loss of her beloved husband and the shattered dream that they would live out their retirement years as a couple. We initially spent a lot of time together during those first few months after we met. I counseled her on how to manage her money, I made sure she was properly insured, and together, we got her estate and all of her financial affairs in order. Then I looked her in the eye and told her one thing: GO GET BUSY LIVING!

Well, she took my advice and then some! Amazingly, she has now travelled around the world to see all 7 continents. She wanted to marvel at all of God’s creation with her very own eyes. She’s also a docent at our local modern art museum, and she plays mahjong with a group of senior ladies every week who have become her tribe of friends. They support one another, attend each other’s doctor appointments, and they have each other’s back. She still contributes to charity and those in need, regularly attends services at the Jewish temple, and often exhibits the gift of hospitality. She welcomes her sons, extended family, and friends who have become like family, into her home to be refreshed and to share a meal. Mrs. Feinberg lives with intention and great purpose.

I’ve been sending apple pies to my clients as a thank you gift for their trust and loyalty at Christmas and Hanukkah time for many years. It’s become a tradition of mine. This is a copy of the email Mrs. Feinberg sent to me last week:

I so appreciate and enjoy our meetings. I don’t want to seem ungrateful for the annual apple pie–a lovely gesture, but unnecessary. Instead, please make a contribution to your favorite charity with whatever you would spend on the apple pie. I’m smart enough to know how lucky I am financially at this time in my life. I’m pretty much able to do whatever I want to do without counting every penny or worrying how I will pay for medication or food. So many people are much worse off. I know my careful spending helps, and I am grateful for God’s provision, but I give a lot of the credit to you for lovingly managing me and my assets. Many Thanks to you.

Please understand that Mrs. Feinberg is not what most people would consider independently wealthy. She and her husband made wise decisions throughout their careers, and she’s very prudent with her money now that she is a widow and retired. I want to encourage you to reach out to someone you trust to help create a plan for your personal finances.

I also want you to focus on LIVING rather than just getting by day-to-day. Let’s live like we know for certain that God has great plans for us, that He wants to provide well for us, and that He has purpose for our life. Friend, I believe that this is how we should all LIVE.

Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

I parked my car in the garage. I had just returned from the grocery store. I braced myself as I prepared to carry 15 bags of groceries into the house, hopefully in one trip. My son then handed me his backpack because his toes were tired. “How is that related?” I thought to myself. Then my daughter asks me if I mind grabbing her library books because she just remembered she needed to go ask our neighbor a question that very second. I looked down at the front seat of my car and noticed the mail was sitting there along with a package I needed to drop off at the post office. When did I become a professional porter?

I think it happened the day my oldest child was born. From that day forward, I did not leave the house without a diaper bag, a change of clothes in case of emergency (for her) although I was usually the one wearing spit up around town, a car seat, a pacifier, her favorite teddy bear, the car keys, and my purse. Heaven forbid I bought anything else that I had to carry too. “Yes!” I said aloud, although no one knew who I was talking to. That is when I became a porter! If I could go back and talk to my 30-year-old self, I would tell myself to hit the gym because you will be carrying this child and their stuff for a very long time. Prepare yourself lady!

After being a parent for 10 years, I no longer just carry baby gear and backpacks. I also carry their fears and their burdens and their excitement and their dreams and their goals. I dry tears and hold hands and encourage and pick up pieces when dreams shatter. I should have gotten a degree in professional counseling. Yes, that would have better prepared me for motherhood.

Or maybe I should have gone to culinary school. Then my children’s lunches would look picture perfect, every color of the rainbow of nutrition that the American Academy of Pediatrics endorses would be present and accounted for. And of course, they would never eat the same thing two days in a row. My home would smell like fresh-baked bread and dinners would effortlessly make their way to the table at half past six in time for my husband to walk in the door. Never would I make a panicked phone call at 6pm asking my husband to pick up something, anything, for dinner so I can feed the children.

Suddenly my thoughts are interrupted by tears and a loud unidentifiable noise. “Uh oh. Someone is hurt!” I run outside to assess the situation and I see blood. Lots and lots of blood. And noise. Oh yes, that is crying. Loud crying. I’m personally not someone who likes blood or loud crying, but I digress. That’s exactly why a career in the medical field never even remotely interested me. I like order. I’m not a fan of chaos. However, that doesn’t matter when you’re a mom. You’re required to be the first person on the scene. You jump in and do whatever it takes to take care of your child. You learn to effortlessly clean up bodily fluids in quantities you never could have even imagined. You bandage scrapes and bruises, you carry kids that weigh almost as much as you do, and you do it without so much as a second thought.

I was just thinking the other day, “Why don’t moms have resumes? Why is that?” Every job I have ever had outside of my home required a detailed resume listing all of my qualifications and a list of references. Being a mother is the hardest job I have ever had, but no one ever interviewed me for the position or gave me a job description. As a small business owner, I can now say if someone listed nothing but “MOTHER” on a resume, I would hire them to run the whole country. They can multi-task, work under extreme pressure, negotiate with terrorists, turn on a dime, work incredibly long hours, and still manage to get the job done – no matter what. As far as I’m concerned, YOU ARE HIRED!

The reality is there is no resume, college class, book, or seminar in the world that can really prepare you for becoming a parent. I think that is how God intended it to be. We are strongest when we know we are weak. Why? When we are aware of our shortcomings, we will stay on our knees praying for wisdom, discernment, and endurance to put one foot in front of the other. On my knees, God reminds me daily how much I need Him. That is the best way to live this life well – in constant awareness of our need for God. Being a Mother reminds me of this every day.